The threshold ambient temperature for the use of precooling to improve cycling time-trial performance

Tools

Faulkner, S.H. ORCID: 0000-0003-4688-7252, Broekhuijzen, I., Raccuglia, M., Hupperets, M., Hodder, S.G. and Havenith, G., 2019. The threshold ambient temperature for the use of precooling to improve cycling time-trial performance. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 14 (3), pp. 323-330. ISSN 1555-0265

Preview

Text
11678_Faulkner.pdf - Post-print
Download (693kB) | Preview

Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2018-0310

Abstract

Purpose: Cycling time trial performance can be compromised by moderate to high ambient temperatures. It has become commonplace to implement pre-cooling prior to competition to alleviate this performance decline. However, little is known about the ambient temperature threshold above which pre-cooling becomes an effective strategy for enhancing endurance performance. It was the aim of this study to investigate the effect of pre-cooling in different environmental temperatures on time trial performance.

Methods: Trained cyclists completed two time trials with (COLD) and without (CON) pre-cooling using an ice-vest and sleeves ensemble in ambient temperatures of 24˚C, 27˚C and 35˚C.

Results: Time trial performance faster following COLD in both 35˚C (6.2%) and 27˚C (2.6%; both P<0.05) but not 24˚C (1.2%). Magnitude based inferential statistics indicate that COLD was very likely beneficial to performance in 35˚C and likely beneficial in 27˚C and possibly beneficial in 24°C. Mean power was 2.4%, 2.5% and 5.6% higher following COLD and considered to be likely beneficial in 24°C and very likely beneficial in 27˚C and 35˚C. COLD reduced mean skin temperature throughout the warm-up and into the time trial in all ambient temperatures (P<0.05). Sweat loss was lower following COLD in 24˚C and 27˚C but not 35˚C. There was no effect of COLD on gastrointestinal temperature at any point.

Conclusions: Pre-cooling with an ice-vest and sleeves is likely to have a positive effect on time trial performance at temperatures above 24˚C, with a clear relationship between ambient temperature and the magnitude of effect of pre-cooling

Item Type:

Journal article

Alternative Title:

Threshold temperature for the use of pre-cooling [running head]

Publication Title:

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance

Creators:

Faulkner, S.H., Broekhuijzen, I., Raccuglia, M., Hupperets, M., Hodder, S.G. and Havenith, G.

Publisher:

Human Kinetics, Inc

Date:

March 2019